Laboratory for genetic analyses
NIVA's team consists of scientists and laboratory engineers with extensive experience in genetic analysis of a wide range of different sample types.
Environmental DNA and other genetic analyses are increasingly used in modern ecosystem monitoring. All living organisms release DNA into the environment surrounding them. By filtering water through a filter with small pores, the DNA is collected so that researchers can use genetic analysis to identify which species are present in different ecosystems.
Genetic methods are used both for monitoring and early detection of alien species and pathogenic microorganisms, and as important tools for mapping biodiversity and for the detection and conservation of endangered species.
NIVA's team consists of scientists and laboratory engineers with extensive experience in genetic analyses of a wide range of different sample types, from environmental DNA from water (marine, freshwater, wastewater), sediments, feces, and soil, to tissue samples from various organisms such as seaweed/kelp (marine algae), invertebrates and fish. NIVA is an important supplier of genetic data to government, industry and international research.
Examples of services we offer
- Collection of water and sediment samples and analysis of environmental DNA (monitoring of ecosystems, biodiversity and ecological status, as well as monitoring of wastewater and antibiotic resistance)
- Disease detection and monitoring of pathogenic organisms (environmental DNA from water, sediment and tissue samples from e.g., seaweed, kelp and eelgrass)
- Metabarcoding/DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analyses to identify species (alien species, monitoring of door-knocker species, red-listed species, cryptic species [distinguishing between species with very similar appearance], mapping the distribution of species/populations)
- Metagenome/metatranscriptome analyses
- Population genetics
- Ferrybox
- Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and qPCR to detect and quantify species
- In-house sequencing with MinION Oxford Nanopore Technology
Please contact us if you would like to know more about what we can offer.